under 5 - may not be given alcohol except on medical orders

5+ - may consume alcohol at home or in registered private clubs or in any public place (subject to local bye-laws)

under 14 - may be present in the bar of a licensed premises if accompanied by a person over 18 & before 9pm (n.b. bar must have a children's certificate)

 

14+ - may be in the bar of licensed premises during permitted hours

16+ - may purchase beer, porter, cider or perry with a meal in an eating area on licensed premises (n.b. wine may be purchased in Scotland)

under 18 - may not purchase or be supplied with or consume alcohol in a bar; may not purchase alcohol from an off-license, supermarket or wholesaler; may not work in a bar of licensed premises; any age - may be present in registered private members' clubs

1839 Metropolitan Police Act: being drunk in a street or public place in the Metropolitan Police area and being guilty of riotous or indecent behaviour.

1872 Licensing Act: being drunk in a highway or other public place or on licensed premises.

1902 Licensing Act: i) being drunk in charge of a child under 7 ii) being drunk and incapable on any highway or other public place.

1964 Licensing Act: i) offence for licensee to permit drunkenness on premises and to serve a drunken customer ii) offence of procuring a drink for a drunken person and of aiding a drunken person to obtain or consume alcohol in licensed premises iii) NB licensees given powers to refuse to admit to, or expel from, licensed premises any drunken person.

1967 Criminal Justice Act: increased the penalty for drunk and disorderly offences.

1980 Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act: increased the penalty for drunkenness offences in Scotland

1980 Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act: any person convicted of any offence committed in licensed premises involving violence may be banned from entering licensed premises.

1985 Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act: prohibits the possession of alcohol at specific sporting events, and on public transport vehicles travelling to and from these events.

1997 Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act: police have powers to confiscate alcohol from under-18s drinking in public and contact their parents.

1997 Prisons (Alcohol Testing) Act: power to test prisoners for alcohol local bye-laws may prohibit drinking in designated areas.